2013 Oscars: The James Bond Actors Will Not Appear Together

It was the kind of news that turned the heads of James Bond fans everywhere, even those who would normally never give the Academy Awards a second glance: all six actors who have played Agent 007 would appear on the 2013 Oscars stage together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic spy franchise. It would be a legendary sight...so it's too bad that it's not happening.

In an interview with Deadline, Oscar telecast producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron confirmed that yes, there will be a James Bond tribute, but no, it will not involve wrangling up Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig and putting them on the same stage. Zadan said:

“It’s something else, something very unique and very exciting but no, we’re not getting the Bonds together."

Time for some baseless speculation! As exciting as it would have been to see all of the 007s in the same frame for the first time, we're not surprised that it's not happening. In fact, we wouldn't be surprised if Zadan and Meron attempted to pull it off and met some resistance. While Brosnan, Dalton and Moore were happy to play Bond and would surely be game to pay tribute to the character who defined their careers (and you know Lazenby isn't doing anything), Connery has always viewed the character as an albatross around the neck of his career. The only way you'd get Connery to participate in a 007 tribute would be to abduct him against his will. And let's face it: a James Bond actor reunion without the original and definitive James Bond wouldn't be a true event.

Without the actors agreeing to appear, we can only dread how the Oscars will pay tribute to the James Bond films. If the past decades are any indication, it'll involve interpretive dance, laser lights and an awkward medley of various Bond themes. You know, the kind of thing that would be worth sitting through if it meant seeing Sean Connery stand five feet from Timothy Dalton but will probably prove painful to watch. You know, like a traditional Oscar routine.

The Oscars will be telecast this Sunday, February the 24th. The latest James Bond film, 'Sykfall,' is nominated for five awards, including Best Original Song and Best Cinematography.